As A Spinner Spins

After we had our spinning class with JMM at Rhinebeck, Terry posted this simple sentence.

"The more spinning workshops I take, the more I don't know about spinning." 

It was so true! It felt so true. The little we thought we knew turned out to be wrong (or so it seemed).  Throughout the weekend we debated and talked about the class, asked questions of friends and received confusing, contradictory and interesting answers (everyone has an opinion, of course).

One of the first things an experienced spinner tells a new spinner is "Knit with your handspun.  You'll learn about the properties of spinning in the process."  On the plane ride home I had a head full of new knowledge and the desire to make the fingers do the job I knew they needed to. (There is always that space of time between "knowing" what you should be able to do and getting your fingers to DO what you know they must.) I couldn't wait to get home and start spinning.  During the trip I had been knitting with my handspun, Oberon, a blend of alpaca, angora and silk.  It was knitting up beautifully and several people had commented on the color.  It was a skein I had spun early on in my spinning experience, a time when I was flying by intuition. 

This yarn is far from "perfect" and it would have flunked out in any judged show.  BUT, it held together, it was soft and the fabric it made was luscious and luxurious.  Who's to say it was "bad"?  I was enjoying every single stitch of the knitting process.  The yarn had a fairly even grist and did I say how soft it was?  The softness was in large part because of the fiber content, but also because I had had tried a semi-woolen technique (didn't know what it was called at the time) and then, wet finishing as I had read about in Spin Off magazine. The yarn was a two-ply, spun to be a fingering weight and the intent was to knit something lacy.  Because it is soft, because it knits nicely, because it is beautiful and has been used for the intended purpose, I'm calling this yarn one big success.

There maybe hundreds of techniques, rules and ways of creating "perfect" yarns. This doesn't mean one shouldn't work towards improving and perfecting spinning expertise. Since the class I have been practicing spinning in general, trying to incorporate the new knowledge and techniques into my daily spinning and learning more as I go. But, what I've spun in the past is as lovely as any future yarn.  I am a spinner. 

Pattern: Lace Ribbon by Véronik Avery
Yarn: My most incredible, fabulous, soft, perfect as it is, and luxurious handspun
Needle: Addi Lace size 6 (4.00mm)
Time to Knit: Longer than it should have, but the bulk of it was knit in a 3 week time period.
The pattern was fun to knit, relaxingly easy and entertaining. 

Comments

[Pat K]

It's beautiful, Margene, and of course a milestone accomplishment. We would never grow as craftspeople if we didn't set goals, one after another. Each step along the way improves our skills. And if there wasn't more to learn, what would be the point? None of us will ever learn everything, and I for one will always be glad of it. There will always be more to learn as long as we are open to trying new skills and setting new goals. Keep on inspiring us!

[sandy]

I am not a spinner, nor do I want to be one :D but I am a knitter AND a scarf lover AND a number one Margene fan and I can say, without a doubt that THAT scarf is a raving success! I love the color! I love the pattern! But especially, I love the way it looks on you. The color is flattering and it looks warm and cozy enough to usher you through the tough winters.
Bravo! (Said in the way I used to say it as a kid....BRAVE-O)
xo

[DebbieB]

Really interesting insights. I too learn something new about spinning every time I watch another spinner or sit down at my own wheel. I hope I never stop learning. That said, some of my favorite handspun is my early efforts. Your scarf is so very beautiful, and the softness comes through the camera lens. You inspired me when you started knitting it - I started a Lace Ribbon too, out of a dear friend's handspun, and it's gorgeous.

[Laurie]

Agree with above. That scarf is beautiful, on all levels. I don't think any of us will ever attain Judith's expertise, no matter how early we start or how often we spin. But you are so right that it is still perfect handspun.

[kv]

anything that has that level of phenomenological impact while being knitted is a beautiful thing! and that would be a beautiful thing if it was knitted by someone asleep at the wheel anyways....

[Kim]

For me, as we have chatted about before, spinning is about the process and a way to relax. If you can end up with a yarn that knits as beautifully as it did in your scarf, then I think you are doing pretty darn good.

It's always good to keep learning, as long as we don't stop enjoying the process :).

[Carole]

It's gorgeous and I think the lesson in all of this is that the yarn knit up beautifully whether it was "correctly" spun or not.

[CindyCindy]

What Kim said. I do not have access to expert spinning teachers so I'm a fly by the seat of my pants spinner. I took lessons in the beginning, but that was a while ago. I still love the process, but I am not a "thinking" spinner. I spin for relaxation and even though my finished yarn is not "perfect" or even close, I am always happy with it. Your spinning had to be wonderful because your scarf is stunning! It looks gorgeous on you!

[Alison]

It's beautiful!

[Anne]

It came out beautifully. I'm glad you found a pattern that complemented that lovely job you did creating that yarn. Bet you get a lot of wear out of it today!

[Kathleen]

it's beautiful margene!

[Ann]

It is awesome, gorgeous. Is there a color you don;t look good it! Wow!

[ruth]

The yarn and the scarf are beautiful! You are indeed a spinner.

[Kirsten]

It is very beautiful - especially so because of your handspun. I've got a lot to learn about spinning.

[Wool Winder]

I clicked on the close-up picture and the yarn looks perfect to me. I don't think I would even know it was handspun if you hadn't told me. It knit up beautifully. Love the scarf!

[Kristin]

I've spoken with many of the spinners in my guild, and most of them have told me that it's better to spin for enjoyment and spin by intuition or to what the fiber wants than to spend all of your spinning time working to produce the 'perfect' yarn. Life's too short!

I need to follow your example. I made my first project out of handspun last fall, and it was a wonderful experience. I have been trying to work through the yarn stash since, but I have a feeling at some point I'll be working mostly with handspun.

[Chante]

I have yet to take a spinning class but I plan to change that in '09. I'm afraid to learn that I've been doing everything wrong but I'm willing to face my fear for the sake of knowledge. Beautiful scarf. I must go home and pet my handspun stash.

[Ann]

What a great post, Margene. I absolutely agree -- and I wish I could take a weekend class as you have done. Knitting up handspun is so satisfying for me, and learning how it behaves just makes me a more intentional (if not always a better) spinner.

Your scarf is lovely. Great accomplishment.

[Marcia]

Yes, you are! (A spinner, that is.) Gorgeous job on the spinning, and of course, the knitting. Permit me a moment of pride for my tiny part in the former ;)

[Vicki]

Absolutely wonderful!!

[claudia]

I am very impressed.

[Hillary]

Congrats on another great knit Margene. I hope to take more spinning classes myself but right now I learn so much from knitting my handspun.

[marie in florida]

i'm SO proud of you.

[Anne B.]

Its very beautiful and seems to incorporate (I say seems as I can't feel it through my lousy computer screen) all things that are good and sublime in a handknit scarf. Just in time for chilly weather!

[Cheryl S.]

It's fantastic, and amazingly soft. Knitted up, it looks as perfect as any commercial yarn. You did a wonderful job with it, and it's perfect for that pattern.